Celtics lose to Raptors in Coach Stevens’s NBA debut

Boston Celtics coach Brad Stevens calls to his players during the first quarter of a preseason NBA basketball game against the Toronto Raptors, Monday, Oct. 7, 2013, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Rudy Gay and Tyler Hansbrough both scored 17 points to lead the Toronto Raptors to a 97-89 preseason victory over Boston last night in Celtics Coach Brad Stevens’s NBA debut.

DeMar DeRozan had 13 points and Terrence Ross added 12 for the Raptors.

Gerald Wallace led the Celtics with 16 points, and Jared Sullinger had 14 with six rebounds.

The 36-year-old Stevens was hired in July after a successful run at Butler University.

The Celtics had seven new players, mainly due to a blockbuster deal that sent likely future Hall of Famers Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to the Brooklyn Nets in a draft-night deal. GM Danny Ainge wanted to start rebuilding the team before the two became ineffective or retired.

Ainge also traded Coach Doc Rivers to the Los Angeles Clippers for a first-round draft pick during the offseason.